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Leucania dia (Grote, 1879)

Identification: A common and widespread small to medium-sized streaky gray-brown and tan moth with a pale veins, a postmedial line of short black lines on the veins arranged in a smooth arc, and a gray hindwing. The forewing ground color is gray-brown. Somewhat patchy gray-tan is present across the posterior wing below the cubital vein and as an oblique streak to the apex. A thin black basal dash is present posterior to the cubital vein. The cubital vein is white and the rest of the veins are mostly pale gray resulting in a pale streaked costa and pale lines on the distal wing. A brown line is present in each interspace on the distal wing producing a finely streaked appearance. The postmedial line is a series of short black lines on the veins, smoothly curved toward the outer margin. The terminal line is comprised of smaller black dots. The fringe is gray-brown traversed by light lines at the ends of the veins. The hindwing is medium-dark gray with darker gray margin and veins. The hindwing fringe is white with a light tan

Wing Span: 2.6-3.4 cm

Life History:

Flight: May to early August

Caterpillar Hosts: Poaceae.

Adult Food:

Habitat:

Range: The global range of L. dia is not well known due to confusion with L. insueta. It occurs widely in the West, including in Alberta, the Rocky Mountains, and California.